This week's Independent News & Media Irish regional newspapers' column.
Michael Commane
The foldup bicycle is the way to go. Or is it? I would have said an emphatic yes until last week when I had a most embarrassing experience.
It’s sometime after 8pm and I’m cycling home with approximately five kilometres to go. It had been a busy day and I am tired, so decide to stop at the next bus stop, fold up the bicycle and take it on the bus. It’s something I’ve been doing for the last five years without ever a bother or issue.
The bus pulls into the stop. I have the bike under my arm when I hear the driver say that bikes are for cycling, which they are. But I feel a tone in his voice that he does not want my bicycle on his bus. He says that it is not permitted to take a bike on a bus.
But I continue to place it in the rack inside the door. I gently and politely say to him that this is the first time anyone has ever said that to me. He allows me leave it there but goes on to say that Dublin Bus does not allow bicycles on buses. I point out that it’s a foldup and fits in the luggage area.
We drive off. I quickly google the topic on my smart phone and right enough, it tells me that Dublin Bus does allow foldups. I tell this to the driver. He replies that the company must have updated the rules.
I now get the impression that his voice is rising a decibel or two. I’m standing behind the white line but he is not happy with that and shouts at me to stand further back. I do. And then he tells me to turn the light off on my head torch. He says it is impairing his driving. I turn it off immediately.
It comes to my stop, I take the bike off the luggage rack, say thank you and get off the bus.
That hadn’t been a pleasant experience. I was glad I never raised my voice, got abusive or used a word of bad language during the confrontation.
On arriving home, I phone the garage from which the bus operates. I tell my story to an inspector. He could not have been nicer. I ask him if Dublin Bus permits foldup bicycles. Yes, they do, provided there is room. I then explain that I don’t want the driver to be disciplined for his behaviour and we both agree it’s the season of good will and end of story.
The inspector was friendly, kind and indeed, funny.
The next morning, I phone the depot again. This time to thank Dublin Bus for the reception I had received the previous evening. I tell the story again. The inspector sounds at first somewhat grumpy.
We get chatting and yes, laughing too. He tells me that all drivers receive instruction in customer care and then quips: ‘But you know, you can’t teach people manners’.
Brilliant and what philosophy. But can you teach a person manners? Interesting question. The Greek philosopher Aristotle said that knowledge does little or nothing for virtue.
What wisdom and all because a grumpy or smart-aleck bus driver was unpleasant to me.
I have to stress I have the highest praise for Dublin Bus drivers.
A great group of people, who do an excellent job under difficult conditions.
Provided there is space available, foldup bicycles are taken for free on all public transport.
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